Seal-lock.



- PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

NOA. 863,025.

L. B. EDGAR.

SEAL LOCK.-

APPLIoATloN FILED JUNB1 4, 1oo6.

f1 Heine? @vH/we so @o W i7 we mais pas?? m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCIEN B. EDGAR, OF IOLA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONEFFOURTH TO CHARLES J. BEAVEN, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

SEAL-LOCK.

Speeieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 190'?.

Application led June 14,1906. Serial No. 321,689.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, LUCIEN B. EDGAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at lola, in the county of Allen and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Seal-Lock, of which the following is a specication. y

The invention relates to improvements in seal locks.

The object oi the present invention is to improve the construction of seal locks, and to provide asirnple, inexpensive and eiiicient device adapted for use on freight cars, mail sacks, and the like, and capable oi being readily applied to a car or sack, and of eifectually preventing the saine from being opened without destroying the seal lock.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consist in the construction and novel combination oi parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details oi construction, within the scope oi the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing3-Figure l is a side elevation oi a seal lock constructed in accordance with this invention, and shown applied to a hasp and staple, the lock casing being constructed of a single piece of rangible material. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, illustrating another orm ofthe invention. FigA is a plan view oi one `oi the sections of the casing, the catch being shown in elevation and the iastening device in section. Fig. 5 a transverse sectional view on the line 5 5 oi Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals oi reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures oi the drawing.

l designates a frangible lock casing, designed to be constructed oi a single piece of glass or other rangihle material, and adapted to be easily broken for destroying the seal lock to enable access to be obtained to a car, sack, or other sealed receptacle. The lock casing, which consists of inner and outer walls, side walls, and upper and lower end walls, arranged parallel with each other, may be constructed in any desired manner, and ii found more convenient, it can be made in two sections or members welded together to form substantially an integral structure. The lock casing is provided with au interior compartment or chamber 2, and it has a narrow opening 3 at one end forming an entrance to the opening or chamber for the introduction oi a locking device 4, which is provided with an engaging portion 5. The locking device or catch consists of a bowed spring constructed oi steel, or other suitable material, and adapted to be introduced into the casing through the end opening 3. The end wall in which the opening 3 is formed provides an interior end shoulder l, which is engaged by one end o the bowed spring ofthe catch or locking device.

The engaging portion 5 of the catch or locking device may be formed by splitting and partially severing a portion of the spring, and then bending the partially severed portion upward, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The partially severed portion presents an angularly disposed iront face and forms a rear shoulder for engaging a sealing strip G. The sealing strip, which is constructed oi suitable metal, is preferably oi a thickness to ll the end opening 3, and it is provided at one end with an opening 6u, having side and end walls and forming a shoulder for engaging the catch or locking device l. The chamber 2, which is oblong, is of the same width as the sealing strip, which has its side edges fitted against the side walls oi the chamber, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

The catch is adapted to be readily placed within the easing in the position shown in Fig. 2. The sealing strip is then introduced into the casing, and as the entrance opening has one of its sides flush with one of the walls of the casing, the sealing strip is adapted to t flat against such wall. The sealing strip is locked against removal by the head or engaging portion 5, which extends into the opening 6", and as the spring projects laterally beyond the engaging portion or head, it is adapted to hold the sealing strip latwise against the contiguous wall oi the casing. When the parts are interlocked in this manner, it is impossible to remove the sealing strip without breaking the frangible lock casing.

The sealing strip is provided at its other end with a head 7, and is adapted to be passed through a staple 8 for retaining a hasp 9 in engagement with the staple, as

clearly shown in Fig. l oi the drawing. The head, which may be made of any desired conigLu-ation, eX- tends laterally from the opposite side edges of the sealing strip.

The end opening 3 is of the same width as the interior compartment or chamber of the casing, and the inner engaging end oi the sealing strip extends entirely across the cha-inber or compartment oi the casing.

In Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive is illustrated another forni of the invention, in which the sealing strip 18 is engaged by a catch or locking device 19, having an engaging portion or head 20 at one end. The engaging portion or head 20, like that heretofore described, presents an angularly disposed front face and forms a rear shoulder device consists of a bowed spring, which is secured at its other end to the bottom or lower' wall 2l oi the lock casing 22. The spring extends laterally beyond both sides oi the engaging portion or head 20, and bears against the sealing strip at opposite sides oi the opening 26. The lock casing 22 'in this forml of the invention is composed oi two sections or members secured together by rivets 23. rlhe sections may be constructed of metal, or other suitable material, if desired.

The lock casing, which is provided with an interior compartment or chamber, is composed oi inner and outer walls, side walls and upper and lower end walls. The upper end wall is provided with an entrance opening, and the inner or rear section ot' the lock casing is provided at its inner face with a longitudinal recess 24, in which the spring 19 is inserted. The sealing strip 18 is introduced into the lock casing through the opening 25, the recess 24 permitting the spring to be forced rearwardly by the sealing strip while the same is being introduced into the casing. The recess 24 is ot a width less than the chamber to provide opposite longitudinal shoulders to fit against the adjacent side face of the sealing strip. As soon as the opening 26 of the sealing strip is brought opposite the beveled head or engaging portion 20 oi the catch or locking device, the spring carries the said head or locking device into the said opening 26 and locks the scaling strip against downward movement. The sealing strip may, ii desired, be constructed of some soit material, which will enable it to be readily broken when it is desired to obtain access to the freight car, sack, or other receptacle to which the seal is applied. One wall oi the opening 26 forms a shoulder as in the other `iorm of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

l, In a seal lock, the combination with a sealing strip provided with an opening, of a casing having an interior oblong chamber of the same width as the sealing strip and provided at one end with an entrance opening, the latter having one side flush with one of the side walls of the chamber to permit the sealing strip to fit flat against such' side wall, and a spring located within the chamber oi. the casing and interposed between the sealing strip and the opposite wall thereof, and provided with an engaging portion o1' head projecting from one of the side faces of the spring and extending into the opening of the sealing strip, said sp1-ing being extended laterally from each side of the engaging` portion or head and bearing against the sealing strip and holding the same flatwise against the contiguous wall of the casing.

2. In a seal lock, the combination with a sealing strip provided with an opening', ot' a casing having an interior oblong chamber oi the same width as the sealing strip and provided at one end with an entrance opening having one side Hush with one of the side walls of the chamber to permit the sealing strip to tit flat against such sidc` wall. said casing being also provided in its opposite side wall with a longitudinal recess of a width less than the width of the chamber to leave opposite longitudinal shoulders to fit against the sealing strip, and a spring operating in the longitudinal recess and provided with an engaging portion or head projecting from one of the side faces of the spring and extending into the opening oi' the sealing strip, said spring extending laterally from each side of the engaging portion or head and bearing against the sealing strip and holding the same flatwise against the contiguous wall of the casing.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LUCIEN B. EDGAR.

Witnesses z Jas. C. CLARK, Gno. G. McGnn. 

